Present world existing Tigers’ subspecies

They are regarded as one of the species of catfamily (Felidae) in theworld: they are carnivorousanimals that live in the forest, except tamed in any zoos – they do not, naturally, live among people.

In this write–up, we bring to your notice, once again, different species of the ‘tiger’ that you can find (all over this world): it should be noted that the ones listed (below) are not the only subspecies that ever existed – there were, initially, ninesubspecies of tigers, three of which are extinct, as of today.

Over the last century, tiger numbers have fallen by about 95percent and tigers now survive in 40 percent less of the area they occupied just a decade ago, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The available species, notwithstanding, include following:

– Amur or Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Amurtigers (also known as Siberian, Manchurian, Ussurian, or NortheastChinatigers) are the largest of the tigersubspecies.

Theirmales can grow up to 10.5 feet (3.3 m) from head to tail and weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms). The females are smaller, reaching just 8.5 feet (2.6 m) in length and about 200 to 370 pounds(100 to 167 kilograms) in weight.

Amurtigers have palerorangefur than the other tigerspecies, as well as, brown instead of blackstripes. They have whitechests and bellies with a whiteruff of fur around theirnecks.

According to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Save the Tiger Fund (perhaps, in the US), wildAmurtigers are found in twomainpopulations, namely: the Russian Far East, which is the primarypopulation of about 450 individuals – covering 60,000 square miles (156,000 sq km) in Primosky and Khabarovski Krais.

Another (but smallpopulation) of about 35 individuals occurs on the Russia-China border and into Northeast China.

Officials representing China’s Jilin province and Russia’s Primorsky province (areas just north of the Koreanpeninsula), recently, signed an agreement to set up a protectedarea straddling their countries’ common border to safeguard these tigers, which are listed as Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, (IUCNRTS).
Like many other threatenedspecies, Amurtigers are being bred in zoos around the world to boost their populations and maintain healthygeneticstocks. Triplets (of these Tigers) born, recently, made their public debut at the Pittsburgh Zoo, USA: the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, New York, also has a set of Amurtigercubs.

Indian or Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

This is the (most) numerous of the tigerspecies, found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan – with India being home to the largestpopulation, estimated between 2,500 and 3,750 individuals, according to the Save the Tigers Fund.

While most Bengaltigers have the colouration, typically associated with theirspecies, a recessivegene for colouration causes some to be cream or white in colour instead of orange, according to the WWF.

These whitetigers are rarely found in the wild.

Rather, they dwell in dry and wetdeciduousforests, grassland and temperateforests, as well as, mangroveforests: while these ‘Tigers’ have more individuals left in the wild than itsbrethren, they are still listed as Endangered on the IUCNRTS.

South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)

These are found in Central and EasternChina, listed as CriticallyEndangered on the IUCNRTS – onestep higher than Endangered.

According to the WWF, the South Chinatiger is estimated to be functionally extinct. Currently, about 47SouthChinatigers live in 18zoos, all in China.

The exactnumber of those in the wild, if there are any left, is unknown. Only 40years ago, there were reputed to be more than 4,000 of these tigers, but (according to the Save the Tigers Fund) the government declared them pests, and they were hunted.

Fieldsurveys conducted in 1987 and 1990 found evidence of a few of thesetigers in the remotemountains of Guangdong, Hunan, and FujianProvinces of SouthChina, “Though no tigers were seen”, the Save the Tigers Fund says: the evidence came from anecdotal stories of hunters.

Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)

The Malayantiger was only identified as being a separate subspecies from the Indochinesetiger in 2004. It is very similar to the Indochinesetiger, but is smaller in size.

Malayantigers are found in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of the Southern tip of Thailand and PeninsularMalaysia.

The subspecies “jacksoni” was named to honor PeterJackson, the former Chair of the IUCNRTS’s CatSpecialistGroup.

The IUCNRTS, also, lists the species as Endangered.

Indo-Chinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)

Also known as Corbett’stiger, after Britishhunter and naturalist (JimCorbett). This subspecies is found in Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam (and formerly) in China. They are listed as endangered by the IUCNRTS.

Indo–Chinesetigers are a bit smaller and darker than Bengaltigers which have shorter, narrowerstripes.

The Males average 9 feet (3 m) from head to tail and weigh about 400 pounds (180 kilograms). Females are smaller, measuring about 8 feet (2.4 m) in length and weighing approximately 250 pounds (115 kilograms), according to the Save the Tigers Fund.

These tigers live in remoteforests in hilly and mountainousterrain, which makes it difficult for scientists to gain access to their habitat. As a result, relatively little is known about the status of thesetigers in the wild.

A 1998assessment put the number of Indo–Chinesetigers in the wild at an estimated 736 to 1,225 individuals.

Geneticanalyses in 2004 showed that Indo–Chinese tigers were a separate subspecies from Malayantigers.

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)

Found only on the IndonesianIsland of Sumatra, the Sumatrantiger is listed as CriticallyEndangered by the IUCNRTS.

Sumatrantigers are protected by law in Indonesia, with tough provisions for jailterms and steepfines, according to the WWF. The conservation and anti–poaching efforts, notwithstanding, tigers are still hunted and tiger’sparts and skins remain in highdemand.

The Sumatrantiger has the darkestcoat of all tigers. Itsbroad, blackstripes are closelyspaced and often doubled. Unlike the Siberiantiger, it has stripedforelegs.

Sumatrantigers are the smallest tigersubspecies. The Males average 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length from head to tail and weigh about 260 pounds (120 kilograms) while the females are closer – having 7 feet (2 m) in length and weighing about 200 pounds (90 kilograms).

The Indonesian Zoological Parks’ Association (PKBSI) has been developing a conservation plan for this Sumatrantigers which exist in Indonesia, NorthAmerican, Australasian and European zoos. The SanDiegoZoo (Safari Park) has two female Sumatran tiger cubs, recently.

Advertisement

Search Hierarchy Magazine

Get it on the go

Popular Posts

August 2, 2017 We present the nomenclature and unique feature(s) of each of these planets, below: Mercury is deadly, burning and sun blasted, no atmosphere, temperature near 400c. Venus, which the Roman…(638)

February 2, 2017 In this article, the church could mean the people (Christians) who gather in a place of worship to have fellowship, while the place of worship (in which they gather) could…(446)

February 19, 2018 It is appalling, how many young and old people are rising up (without proper training) in this generation – amassing crowd of ignorant followers: these people call themselves whatever they…(148)

May 6, 2016 Sometimes ago, we came across an argument about the difference in the number of books that the Catholic Church’s and the Protestant Church’s Bibles have. We deemed it fit, to…(92)

November 9, 2017 Courtship is, definitely, a period of acquaintances for two people – a male and a female (not between two consenting adults, a term used to encourage homosexuality); a duration of…(73)

February 19, 2018 The WordWeb Dictionary defines self-defense as, “The act of defending yourself” which implies that there is an external aggression that seeks to encroach on your goodwill, security, rights and/or concerns.…(64)

February 19, 2018 Let us begin by looking at ‘ego’ as an entity: how does it affect people, and what does it do to people? The WordWeb Dictionary defines ego in three ways:…(51)

February 19, 2018 At this time, in Nigeria, when every region is tensed due to the activities of Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen attacks, and Political preparations ahead of 2019 General Elections – we…(47)

February 2, 2017 Living is more of spiritual than physical, because the physical realm is controlled by the spiritual realm. In this sense, whatever happens or is about to happen to anyone is…(46)

February 19, 2018 Those affiliated with the word of God will not be so surprised at the wake of: calamities, terrorism, laws enacted to uphold LGBT, dolls, hunger, diseases, and various heart-stricken occurrences…(45)